Cyclones Fall To Kansas In Extra Innings

AMES, Iowa – Freshman Brittany Gomez went 4-for-5 with two RBI, a run scored and three stolen bases on Saturday as Kansas (33-16, 8-8 Big 12) rallied late in the game to defeat Iowa State (21-33, 4-13 Big 12), 12-6 in eight innings, at the Cyclone Sports Complex.

Gomez enters Sunday’s season finale on a six-game hitting streak, having scored a record 50 runs and stolen 30 bases in her first season at Iowa State, the only Cyclone to ever reach 30 thefts in a single season.

Aly Cappaert and Lexi Slater each had two hits for the Cyclones. Both players doubled, bringing the team total to 70 on the year, and Slater drove in a run on a solo home run, her fifth of the season.

Despite three errors in the contest, the Cyclone defense turned three double plays against the Jayhawks, totaling 29 for the season which is tied for fourth-most in the nation.

Maggie Hull, Alex Hugo and Maraiah Montgomery drove in three runs apiece to assure Kelsey Kessler (11-6), pitching in relief on Saturday, her second win in as many days. Kessler threw five and two-thirds innings, giving up six hits, three runs, two walks and striking out four.

Tori Torrescano (11-15) took the loss in relief for Iowa State, working four innings and allowing eight runs on nine hits and walking five without a strikeout.

Kansas threatened immediately, getting runners to second and third base in the top of the first, but it was the Cyclones who plated the game’s first run on Erica Miller’s RBI-single in the bottom of the frame.

The Jayhawks countered with two runs off a home run by Chanin Naudin in the second inning to take a one-run lead, but Gomez singled up the middle with one out in the Cyclone second to score Sara Davison, who led off the inning with a single of her own.

The teams traded runs in the third inning, KU scoring on a double play ball off the bat of Montgomery before Slater went deep for the fifth time this season, chasing Kansas starter Alicia Pille from the game.

After Hull homered in the top of the fifth, the Cyclones responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Torrescano was hit by a Kessler pitch to lead off the inning and Cappaert followed with a walk. A sac bunt from Slater put both runners in scoring position for Davison who bunted, bringing home Torrescano, who beat the throw home. Jorden Spendlove also hit into a fielder’s choice, but, once again, the Cyclone runner – pinch runner Alex Tinaglia – beat the play at the plate to score the run. Gomez’s fourth hit of the day made the score 6-4 as the teams headed to the sixth.

Iowa State turned its third double play of the game in helping hold Kansas scoreless in the sixth, but two walks and two hits, including a two-run single from Montgomery, to prolong the game.

Hull and Hugo combined for five RBI in the top of the eighth and Montgomery drove in her third run of the game as Kansas took a 12-6 lead it would not relinquish.

Sunday is senior day at the Cyclones Sports Complex; Iowa State will honor Miller and Torrescano before the game’s first pitch at noon CDT.